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NATIONAL NEWS
20000805
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Pakistan not to export Nuclear material, says FO
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Hasan Akhtar
ISLAMABAD, Aug 4: Pakistan has dubbed a British newspaper report as
"tendentious" and vowed not to export any sensitive material to any
country.
A foreign office spokesman in a statement here on Friday reiterated
Islamabad's unequivocal commitment not to export any nuclear
materials, equipment or technologies.
He was referring to the report carried by the Guardian on Thursday,
suggesting that Pakistan is prepared to export sensitive materials
and equipment contrary to its assurances and public posture against
such transfers.
"Nuclear activity in Pakistan is restricted to the public sector
and the question of unauthorized transfer of sensitive materials
does not arise," he maintained.
He said the export of nuclear-related substances and equipment was
governed by SRO 782, issued on July 6, 1998, which completely
prohibited the export of all fissionable materials including
uranium, plutonium, etc.
He said: "Our export control procedures are vigorously applied. Our
record is impeccable."
In pursuance of its dialogue with the United States and consistent
with all International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) norms, he said,
Pakistan was considering further procedures to strengthen its
export controls.
The Guardian story, he said, was based on a public notice issued by
the commerce ministry, published in the local press on July 24
which was clarified two days later.
According to the clarification, the procedure for the export of
nuclear-related substances and equipment was still under
consideration by the relevant ministries and agencies and would be
made public in due course.
KASHMIR KILLINGS: The spokesman rejected Indian Prime Minister Atal
Behari Vajpayee's accusations that Pakistan was behind the recent
mass killings in the disputed Kashmir and demanded an impartial
probe.
Mr Vajpayee has accused "foreigners backed by Pakistan" for the
gruesome violent acts, in which over 100 people were killed on Aug
1 and 2 in parts of the held valley, he stated.
He said: "The Pakistan government once again rejects these baseless
allegations as part of the Indian government's effort to divert
attention from its own atrocities against the Kashmiri people and
to malign the Kashmir freedom struggle".
"Pakistan has already condemned the killings of civilians and
called for an impartial, neutral, and third-party mechanism to
carry out a full investigation", he said.
He added that India's lack of response to the proposal demonstrated
clearly that it was only interested in exploiting these incidents
for propaganda purposes against the Kashmir freedom struggle and
against Pakistan and had no interest in objective determination of
the truth.
Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar had expressed on Thursday Pakistan's
deep shock and concern at the violent incidents and demanded that
the US should exercise its influence to arrange an international
impartial inquiry into the incidents which occurred soon after the
announcement of cease-fire by Hizbul Mujahideen.
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20000802
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New Delhi begins talks with Hizb nominee: 30 killed in Kashmir
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Monitoring Desk
KARACHI, Aug 1: The process of talks between New Delhi and the
Hizbul Mujahideen was set in motion on Tuesday as Indian home
ministry officials contacted the outfit's nominee for negotiations
here.
Fazal Haq Qureshi, a veteran freedom struggle leader heading the
Jammu and Kashmir People's Political Front, nominated as the
negotiator by Hizbul Mujahideen, confirmed that officials of the
home ministry spoke to him on phone on Tuesday morning.
However, Qureshi refused to divulge details of his interaction with
the officials but said: "I told them that I am available for
anybody," according to a PTI report monitored here.
He said he was waiting for "guidelines" from the Hizbul Mujahideen
to go ahead with the talks with New Delhi. Qureshi said he had been
in touch with the Hizbul Mujahideen prior to its announcement of
unilateral ceasefire for three months. "I am in touch with the
Hizbul Mujahideen as before. Even before they (Hizb) announced the
ceasefire, I was in contact with them".
APPEAL: The Hizbul Mujahideen appealed on Tuesday to other groups
to lay down their weapons and urged Indian forces to suspend
operations in occupied Kashmir, says an AFP report from Srinagar.
In its statement, the Hizbul Mujahideen said: "We appeal to other
groups to support the ceasefire and we expect the Indian troops to
suspend their offensive operations against all the groups."
The statement said authorities had been asked to contact a leader,
Fazal-Haq Qureshi.
BREAKTHROUGH: The sudden and unprecedented truce between India and
the Hizbul Mujahideen has kindled a flicker of hope for peace in
occupied Kashmir.
Some believe the developments that have unfolded so rapidly in
recent weeks could culminate in a meeting between Chief Executive
Gen Pervez Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee
at the UN Assembly next month.
That would indeed be a breakthrough given that since last year's
undeclared war in Kargil, New Delhi has refused to hold talks with
Islamabad.
But analysts say such hope could easily be snuffed out by New
Delhi's reluctance to include Islamabad in negotiations on Kashmir,
and its unwillingness to make concessions on sovereignty.
There could also be an escalation of violence as diehard groups -
such as Lashkar-i-Taiba and Jaish-i-Mohammad - try to undermine the
unilateral ceasefire implemented by the Hizbul Mujahideen last
week.
The first evidence came quickly, with the Lashkar-i-Taiba launching
a fierce attack on an Indian army camp in occupied Kashmir on
Sunday night.
CURFEW: Meanwhile, an indefinite curfew was imposed on Tuesday in a
district of occupied Kashmir after the killing of 23 people,
including five Hindu pilgrims at a crowded marketplace, a police
official said.
The official said a group of unidentified gunmen swooped on a
market in Pahalgam, 97kms south of Srinagar, and fired
indiscriminately at shoppers.
"The Pahalgam market which was targeted lies on the Hindu
pilgrimage route to the holy Amarnath cave in southern Kashmir.
That is why the dead and the injured are mainly from the Hindu
community," said the official.
"This incident could spark off a lot of communal violence. That is
why we have cordoned off the area and stepped up security."
A team, led by a senior police officer, rushed to the spot as
people from the Hindu community thronged the streets shouting anti-
Muslim and anti-government slogans outside police stations,
hospitals and government buildings.
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20000802
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Musharraf to meet Clinton, Vajpayee at UN summit
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Masood Haider
NEW YORK, Aug 1: Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf would meet US
President Bill Clinton and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari
Vajpayee during the United Nations Millennium Summit here next
month.
Diplomats and officials here say that besides exchanging
pleasantries, the leaders of Pakistan, US and India could hold
bilateral meetings at the sidelines of the summit which will be
held from September 6 to 8.
The US officials have indicated that they would encourage a meeting
between Gen Pervez Musharraf and Atal Behari Vajpayee in the
backdrop of the sudden and unprecedented truce between India and
Hizbul Mujahideen group which has kindled a flicker of hope for
peace in Kashmir after a decade of violence and diplomatic
deadlock. That would indeed be a breakthrough since last year's
Kargil incident which brought India and Pakistan closer to their
fourth war, said observers.
Ever since President Clinton's visit to South Asia last March, the
US officials from the Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbot to
the Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Pickering have asked India
to transcend Kargil and open dialogue with Pakistan. India has
steadfastly refused to hold talks. But now that the main condition
which India stipulated for holding talks has been met it will be
hard for India to say no to talks with Pakistan, said an official.
"Things have changed dramatically and India would be hard pressed
to give valid reasons for not engaging Pakistan," officials
observed adding "without engaging Pakistan there can be no viable
solution to the Kashmir dispute."
Mr Vajpayee who is scheduled to begin an official visit to United
States on September 15, would be prompted by the image he would
convey in the American media specially in the backdrop of reports
of persecution of Indian minorities, in particular the Christians,
which has become an issue with the lawmakers at the Capitol Hill.
Vajpayee is expected to address a joint session of US House of
Representatives and the Senate. The issues of Kashmir, Khalistan
and persecution of minorities are expected to be raised by US
senators and congressmen who are being lobbied by their
constituents in the United States.
When a State Department official was asked by Dawn to comment on
reports emanating from India and Pakistan that a meeting between
the Indian and Pakistani leaders could take place in New York
during the summit, he said "obviously US would support any kind of
dialogue between the two countries as soon as conditions permit."
The official pointed out "President Clinton has repeatedly called
upon India and Pakistan for the renewal of dialogue."
However, the official said that State Department was unaware of any
American effort towards the proposed meeting, adding "we would
encourage any peace talks."
Last week when State Department spokesman Philip T. Reeker was
asked about the ceasefire call in Kashmir, he said: "Our position
on Kashmir is well known. When the president (Clinton) visited
India earlier this year, he called for mutual restraint, a respect
for the Line of Control, a renewal or resumption of dialogue
between the parties with a stand against violence, rejecting
violence, and making efforts to reduce tension and resolve this
peacefully. And that will continue to be our position."
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20000802
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Need stressed for third party mediation in Pak-India disputes
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ISLAMABAD, Aug 1: Reaffirming Pakistan's position on the Kashmir
issue the Information Minister, Javed Jabbar, on Tuesday said the
government was committed to build a "Policy of friendship and peace
with dignity and honour with India."
Mr Jabbar said this while speaking at a seminar entitled "South
Asia: Prospects for Peace," which was organized by the Islamabad
Policy Research Institute and was held at a local hotel. He added:
"Our government is committed to building policy of peace in South
Asia including India."
He said that Pakistan had shown its commitment on various occasions
and referred to the Chief Executive's, Gen Pervez Musharraf, speech
at the South Asia Media Conference held in Islamabad in which he
had called for the immediate convening of summit meeting of South
Asia Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in a bid "to
dilute the intensity and harshness of bilateral relations."
The minister said that Gen Musharraf had called for the expansion
of the scope of the SAARC's charter to specifically include
political dialogues and had also called for the early resumption of
official dialogue between the two countries.
Mr Jabbar said: "It is an inescapable reality that the Pakistan-
India relationship is the most complex relationship of any two
nations on the planet. The relationship between Pakistan and India
go far beyond the Koreas' relations where there is common ground of
ethnicity and faith, or the relations between the former East
Germany and West Germany. This has to be the single most difficult,
intense, deep and multilayered relationship." He added that in view
of this relationship there was the need for third-party
intervention to resolve their disputes.
He said that the Kashmir issue cannot be termed as a bilateral
issue, instead he said: "Kashmir is the first and foremost a
disputed territory fully recognized by the United Nations as a
dispute between two sovereign states. Reality cannot be brushed
aside. However much time goes by, 50 years or another 50 years. You
cannot rewrite or fabricate what has occurred in history."
He added:"You may wish to bypass Pakistan but Pakistan cannot be
bypassed. The 130 million of Pakistan have to be taken seriously."
The minister said that All Parties Hurriyet Conference must be
recognized as the true representatives of Kashmiri people. He
denied the often repeated Indian allegations that Pakistan was
sending "infiltrators" into held Kashmir and questioned: "How can
we infiltrate people through 500,000 or 600,000 troops."
He said that India must realize the "indigenousness of the roots"
of the freedom struggle. He added: "Kashmir remains the core issue.
Kashmir has become so deep rooted into the Pakistani psyche that it
is not going to be possible to deal in any rationale way the
Pakistan-India relationship unless it is addressed."
He said that even after the Kashmir issue was addressed
successfully the complexity of the relationship would remain and
that it would not be easy to manage and would be forever full of
hazards. He added: "Such a situation poses challenges to us and we
should be ready to deal with it."
Mr Jabbar said that Pakistan had accepted India as a reality, "We
have no problem with accepting India. The difficulty in accepting
has been on the other side and not on our side." In this regard, he
cited an interview of Quaid-e- Azam with a German journalist on
March 11, 1948 who stated: "The root of the Pakistan-India
relationship has to be the principle of equality. The government
and people of India must recognize that Pakistan is a equal,
sovereign state that has come to stay."
He said that Pakistan was the only country in the region "which has
the capacity to effectively neutralize the basic asymmetry in South
Asia. It was well before the nuclear deterrent came into existence.
The people of Pakistan know that no force can effectively threaten
its sovereignty and endurability as a state." He added: "With the
nuclear deterrent, we can say that despite the fact we have a
smaller coastline as compared to our neighbour and other
limitations of our geographic construct, we are in military terms,
the only country in South Asia that can withstand effectively and
with credibility, any threat to our security."
Mr Jabbar said that Pakistan was not entirely India-centric and
said: "It is true that India is the biggest threat to Pakistan's
security. Yet we are not obsessed by India." He substantiated his
contention by referring to Pakistan's imperishable bonds of
friendship with Iran, Middle East, Afghanistan and China.-APP
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20000801
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Chief Executive for no-war pact with India
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ISLAMABAD, July 31: The chief executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, has
suggested signing of a no-war agreement with India, and said that
he would hand over power to the civilians according to the deadline
set by the Supreme Court.
In an interview to the London-based Arabic daily Al Hayat, he asked
India to sign an agreement for preventing wars between the two
countries instead of New Delhi's insistence on signing a pact on no
first use of nuclear weapons.
"I will not remain in power after 2002. I will certainly hand over
power to the civilians, and I do not intend to get involved in
politics at all".
He said that definite dates for elections had not been decided yet,
but "these will certainly be held in 2002".
Gen Musharraf ruled out "any serious help" to the US to arrest
Osama bin Laden. "All that we can do is act through diplomatic
channels to help Washington and Kandahar resolve their pending
problems between them," he said, adding "our stand towards Taliban
is dictated by Pakistan's national interests."
Dispelling impression that his government was mulling over
establishing diplomatic ties with Israel, he said "this is unlikely
to happen at present as it is not a priority of the government."
In reply to a question, the CE said: "What I did was not a coup but
a counter-coup to the coup Nawaz Sharif staged when he dismissed me
from the army."
In reply to another query, he said: "Full reforms cannot be
achieved in three years". The reforms are a constant and continuing
process. "We are acting to rectify the major issues and stop
deterioration".
The CE denied Nawaz Sharif's accusation that he had interfered in
his trial. "This is nonsense. The judiciary is independent and no
one interferes in its affairs."-NNI
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20000803
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Benazir, Nawaz have no role in politics: Chief Executive
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ISLAMABAD, Aug 2: Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf said on
Wednesday that former premiers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif had
no place in politics, and that he was trying to create a new
leadership.
In an Internet interview with BBC, the CE said he would meet a
three-year deadline set by the SC to restore democracy. He denied
he had set out to victimize the two former prime ministers. But
both leaders had "tried twice and they failed the nation" in the
short-lived terms as prime ministers they alternated between them.
"So I am only voicing the concern...and the impression of the
people of Pakistan that these two have been tested, tried and they
have failed. They have failed the country and they have no place in
Pakistan's politics," he said.
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20000802
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Nawaz not to challenge Attock court judgment
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Rafaqat Ali
ISLAMABAD, Aug 1: Nawaz Sharif has decided not to challenge the
Attock accountability court judgment that has convicted him of
corruption in the helicopter case, Dawn learnt from sources close
to the deposed prime minister.
Under the National Accountability Bureau Ordinance the aggrieved
party can challenge the judgment within 10 days of its
announcement. The government, too, has decided not to challenge the
acquittal of co-accused Saifur Rehman. Headed by Judge Farrukh
Latif, the court had awarded 14 years rigorous imprisonment to
Nawaz Sharif in the case.
As both Nawaz Sharif and Nab have decided not to challenge the
verdict, the decision would become final on August 2. Earlier,
Nawaz Sharif had refused to receive the judgment served through the
jail superintendent.
He is sticking to his position which he took before the
accountability court. He had boycotted the proceedings on the
grounds that since he did not accept the validity of Nab Ordinance,
promulgated by a "usurper", he would not take part in the trail
initiated under the same law. He had dubbed the ordinance "Nawaz
accountability bureau ordinance".
He was also disheartened with the Lahore High Court's order on his
petition challenging the establishment of the accountability court
in the 16th century Attock Fort.
"Certain remarks by the members of the (LHC) bench which heard his
petition, have convinced Nawaz Sharif that verdict of the
accountability court would remain the same," sources said.
Nawaz Sharif said he had challenged the ordinance in the SC under
its direct jurisdiction. Nab, he believes, is violative of the
fundamental rights guaranteed in the constitution.
But he was saddened when the apex court did not take up his
petition filed by Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan a few months back. The
apex court had announced on May 12 that a number of petitions
challenging the Nab ordinance were pending, and that they would be
taken up for hearing at an appropriate time.
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20000805
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Special bench: Nawaz's plea dismissed by Supreme Court
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Shujaat Ali Khan
LAHORE, Aug 4: The Supreme Court dismissed on Friday ousted premier
Mian Nawaz Sharif's petition against the creation of a special
bench in the Sindh High Court for out-of-turn hearing of appeals in
the hijacking case against him.
Sindh Advocate-General Raja Qureshi produced an SHC order saying
that all criminal appeals, including those filed under the Anti-
Terrorism Act, should be heard speedily even during the summer
vacation. Due to the shortage of judges, the order made by the SHC
chief justice said, only one division bench could be set up to hear
the ATA appeals. A copy of the order was sought by the three-member
SC bench seized of the ex-PM's petition when the AG submitted on
Thursday that all ATA appeals were being heard expeditiously and
that the hearing of the hijack case appeals was not being rushed.
The AG also produced a copy of the SHC rules empowering the CJ to
constitute benches and assign them cases. He reiterated that the
hijack case was a case of first impression in that it involves
commission of the offence by taking control of a plane from ground.
Only Pakistan law (Section 402 of the PPC) provides for such
hijacking.
Barrister Azizullah Sheikh, the ex-PM's counsel, rejoined that the
SHC order produced by the AG did not meet his objection that one
particular case was being hurriedly disposed of while 40 appeals
filed under the same law (the ATA) much earlier were awaiting
hearing. The CJ, he said, may constitute and reconstitute benches
but he cannot use this power arbitrarily.
As for the interpretation of the PPC provision on hijacking, the
lawyer maintained that there is an authoritative pronouncement by a
division bench of the Lahore High Court in the case of Mohammad
Ibrahim Haleemi alias Abu Abdullah Mohtasib, a Palestinian,
involving hijacking from ground.
The SC bench comprising Justices Mohammad Arif Chaudhry, Munir A.
Sheikh and Qazi Mohammad Farooq dismissed the petition after
hearing the two sides. The petition sought leave to appeal against
a three-member SHC bench order upholding its constitution to hear
the hijack case appeals on day-to-day basis. The bench, which
consists of Chief Justice Syed Saeed Ashhad and Justices Sarmad
Jalal Osmany and Wahid Bux Brohi, is scheduled to resume hearing of
the appeals from 15th of this month.
Anwar Saifullah: The SC bench issued notice to the attorney-general
in a National Accountability Bureau petition for leave to appeal
against a Lahore High Court order granting bail to former petroleum
minister Anwar Saifullah Khan. Appearing for the Bureau,
Prosecutor-General Farooq Adam Khan said the high court had no
power to grant bail to a NAB accused.
Notices were also issued in a petition moved by the ex- minister
for reduction of the bail amount of Rs 20 million. Arguing the
petition, Advocate Shahid Hamid said the NAB Ordinance empowered
the high court to grant bail under its Section 24 (D). However, the
amount of security fixed by an LHC full bench was too high to allow
the petitioner to avail of the concession.
The bench observed that both the petitions would be heard together
in Islamabad after summer vacation by a larger bench since the LHC
bench which granted bail consisted of five members.
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20000801
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Court freezes assets of Sherpao and his family
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Intikhab Amir
PESHAWAR, July 31: An accountability court ordered here on Monday
the freezing of the movable and immovable assets of the former NWFP
chief minister, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, his wife, two sons and
two daughters.
The court also ordered the freezing of their bank accounts. The
court, headed by judge Attaullah Khan, handed down the decision in
a case filed by the National Accountability Bureau under section 12
of the accountability ordinance, 1999.
The same court had declared the former chief minister proclaimed
offender in the NAB reference pertaining to illegal appointments in
the provincial education department during his chief ministership.
Mr Sherpao is co-accused and the former provincial minister for
local government and rural development, Habibur Rehman Tanoli is
the main accused in the case.
The judge in his two-page decision ordered the collectors of
Charsadda and Peshawar to freeze the properties of the co-accused
and his family members in the two districts and take their vehicles
into possession.
Besides, the judge directed the heads of the financial institutions
and banks to freeze their accounts.
The court further held that all the properties whether movable or
immovable should not be disposed of in any way or delivered to the
accused or to any other person.
Copies of the decision and list of properties/vehicles/bank
accounts were immediately dispatched to the deputy commissioners/
collectors of the two districts, the managers of Muslim Commercial
Bank, Sherpao village, Habib Bank, Safaid Dheri, Peshawar and
Citibank, I.I. Chundrigar road, Karachi, along with instructions
for compliance of the order.
The main reference against Mr Tanoli would come up for hearing
before the accountability court No 2 on Aug 10.
The former chief minister has gone under ground since Jan 12,
fearing his arrest by the NAB.
The vehicles to be seized include a Mercedes Benz, worth Rs8.5
million, a Land Cruiser, Rs2.5 million; a Toyota Corona car,
Rs500,000; another Toyota Corolla car, Rs400,000; and a Suzuki car,
Rs350,000.
The details of Mr Sherpao's bank accounts are: Citibank, I.I.
Chundrigar Road branch, Karachi, Rs10,249,998 ($202,243); in the
time deposit $102,069; saving account, Rs253,184; in the MCB branch
of Sherpao, Charsadda, and Rs45,101 in the Habib Bank Safaid Dehri
branch.
Mr Sherpao's properties, to be frozen, include: a house in sector
E-7, Islamabad; seven kanals hujra at Sherpao village, Charsadda;
133-110 kanals land (already attached); 23 kanals agriculture land
at Hawara, Charsadda; 246 kanals at Charsadda; 234-188 kanals
(already attached); 46 kanals agriculture land and six kanals
residential/ shop at Moza Kiramat Shah, Charsadda.
According to the court decision the following properties of Mr
Sherpao's wife, Nighat Aftab, will be attached: 814 kanals land at
Moza Kiramat Shah, Charsadda, two plots of two kanals each at
Hayatabad township and at Rehman Baba Road, University Township,
Peshawar.
The properties in the name of his elder son, Sikander Sherpao, are:
four plots of two kanals each at Hayatabad township, Peshawar, a
house in Islamabad, measuring 1777.77 square yards and 359 kanals
agriculture land at Zaim Tehsil, Charsadda.
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20000801
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Nawaz's charges rejected
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ISLAMABAD, July 31: Information Minister Javed Jabbar has rejected
allegations levelled against the government by former prime
minister Nawaz Sharif in his written speech read out at a Pakistan
Muslim League meeting
on Sunday.
"We reject all allegations and the extreme language used against
the government," he said while responding to questions at a
luncheon meeting with Islamabad-based leading columnists and senior
journalists on Monday.
"It (written speech) was a strange combination of contradictions.
We have to sift as to which part of the statement is based on facts
and which is not."
Mr Jabbar said that on the one hand Mr Sharif had asked his party
to hold dialogue with the government while on the other, he had
hurled serious allegations against the government.
He said the present government had not made any attempt to
persecute or physically torture anybody. "A particular person and a
clique was involved in corrupt practices. It is one of the most
important responsibilities of the government to initiate
accountability," he said and added,"if in that process he (Nawaz)
had to face some hardship, then it cannot be termed a biased
attitude."-APP
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20000801
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Information & media development to set up Advisory council soon
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Correspondent
ISLAMABAD, July 31: The Ministry of Information and Media
Development has decided to establish an advisory council on
information and media development.
This was stated by the Federal Minister for Information and Media
Development, Mr Javed Jabbar, on Monday. The council will comprise
prominent citizens and specialists from a broad range of
disciplines with a particular interest in the field of mass media.
The main objective of creating the council is to enable the
government in general and the ministry in particular to benefit
from the vast experience and the valuable insights of private
citizens from different fields who could provide independent
critical observations.
The ministry is of the opinion that such a council will help the
on-going process of formulating a formal and written information
policy.
The basic principles of the information policy are: strengthening
the freedom of the Press, introducing private and independent
electronic media channels, enhancing the professional autonomy of
the PTV and the PBC, facilitating free flow of information,
refining existing institutions, establishing new institutions, and
increasing access of the people to mass media.
The council will meet once a month in Islamabad and the four
provincial capitals by rotation. The members of the council will
serve on voluntary basis and will also receive remuneration. The
ministry will only bear their travel and incidental expenses.
The government will be represented by the Ministry of Information
and Media Development as the convener of the council.
The Secretary of the Ministry and the Director General of ISPR will
participate as observers.
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20000801
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Government-traders contact revived
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ikram Hoti
ISLAMABAD, July 31: The government-traders contact was revived here
on Monday after the talks between the two sides broke down on July
26.
Sources in the trade circle told Dawn that the overtures were made
on Saturday for "an amicable solution to the problems, and for
breaking the deadlock.
On Monday, a marathon session of the representatives of all the
major trade bodies from 13 major cities of the country, was held at
the Rawalpindi Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
Sources told Dawn that they discussed the government's offer to
restart the talks. The government has asked for a package draft
from the trade bodies.
"We discussed a draft and will hopefully present it at the 26-
member committee of the trade bodies meeting here on Tuesday", said
a senior trade leader.
"We will submit it to the higher authorities. Once this process is
over, we hope to be talking to these authorities, in three to four
days", he said.
When asked whether the CBR officials have been involved in this
process, he said: "They (CBR officials), according to our
information, will join us after once we have met the authorities",
he added. The draft, he added, included a tax payment system which
would be similar to the fixed tax scheme, evolved by the CBR in the
shape of development tax, last year.
The finance ministry spokesman, Dr Waqar Masud, told Dawn that the
government did contact the trade leaders and "this time we are
inviting a larger group of them to talks."
When asked whether the government's negotiating team (at talks on
July 25-26) had taken up the issue of two per cent turnover tax and
its clubbing with the income tax, with the higher authorities, he
said: "We did take it up with the higher authorities (supposed to
be the chief executive).
About the proposed fixed tax scheme of the traders to which the
government has already expressed its aversion, he said: "Let us see
what they come out with; talks will, in all circumstances,
continue; it will be an un-interrupted process" he said.
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20000803
-------------------------------------------------------------------
89,735 survey forms received
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Correspondent
ISLAMABAD, Aug 2: Out of 337,139 survey forms distributed among the
businessmen in 13 major cities of the country, only 89,735 (26.6
per cent) returned these forms by Aug 2.
According to the latest figures released by the Central Board of
Revenue, the poorest returns have been recorded in Multan,
Faisalabad and Karachi.
In Rawalpindi, businessmen returned only 1322 forms out of 28419
(4.6%). Faisalabad businessmen received 28,694 forms and returned
only 5276 (18%).
Businessmen of Lahore topped by returning 25,222 forms out of
86,012 distributed (29.3%).
Businessmen of Karachi returned only 15,564 forms out of the total
72,969 distributed (21.3%).
The performance of survey teams in distribution of forms in
Karachi, the largest business centre of the country, remained poor
than their performance in Lahore, as they distributed 13043 forms
and collected 9658 less forms in Karachi.
In Sialkot, 18433 forms were distributed among the business
community and 15796 were retrieved (85.6%). Multan businessmen
received 22,138 forms and returned only 1959 (8%). In Gujranwala,
the total forms distributed among businessmen were 21,809, while
the forms retrieved were 7861 (36%).
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20000803
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Talks with traders on Saturday on fixed tax payment formula
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Correspondent
ISLAMABAD, Aug 2: The talks between the government and the trade
bodies for a fixed tax-payment formula will be held on Saturday,
official sources told Dawn Wednesday.
The talks will be initiated if the trade bodies agree to certain
modalities of payment meant to secure achievement of a revenue
target set for the retail sector, sources said. The nominees of
both the sides will first negotiate, on Thursday or on Friday, to
finalize a draft formula for the scrutiny of a technical committee
to be set up by Saturday.
The committee, will be "fully empowered to give shape to the
amendment in the law for the fixed tax scheme to be applicable to
the retail sector below the annual turnover of Rs5m. "The
modalities will be such that if the trade sector did not help
achieve the target, the scheme will be scrapped", said a senior
official.
The package will be based on a combine of sales tax and income tax.
The rates of the two will be reduced for the specific sector and
clubbed together for one-time clearance of the liability- the mode
of payment to be set up differently from those applicable under the
normal circumstances.
The sources also said that the rate of income tax will be fixed
somewhere between Rs 0.25-0.75, and that of sales tax at 0.5%.
The retailers in 13 major cities will be allowed to avail the
immunity from physical verification of the income-source records in
case of making declarations under the Self-Assessment Scheme.
"This will satisfy the demand of trade bodies to do away with the
new policy in which basic SAS-based immunity is not available to
trade sector in 13 major cities", sources added.
They said the committee will be comprised ministry of finance/CBR
officials and the representatives of the trade sector and it will
be empowered to deal with issues relating to net revenue generation
from the scheme.
"It will also finalize a strategic component of the scheme which
will make it binding upon traders to pay dues under the formula" ,
they added.
When asked whether such a scheme will be floated during August, a
CBR official said: "Already much precious time has been lost in
deciding whether the provisions of the Finance Ordinance 2000 are
to be followed strictly. There is no provision for fixed tax under
this ordinance. However, revival of a fixed scheme has been allowed
as businessmen with turnover up to Rs5m have been offered a 2%
Turnover Tax package.
So why not allow another scheme, and settle the issue which has so
far prevented the government and traders from striking a deal", he
said.
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20000803
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Government modifies devolution plan
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Aug 2: The National Reconstruction Bureau has modified
its devolution plan, to be unveiled by the chief executive on Aug
14, to accommodate provincial governments' demand for a neutral
administrative machinery under the district mayor.
Sources told Dawn that following objections from the provincial
governments the NRB has amended its plan to allow chief secretaries
to appoint the district police chief, district coordinating
officers (DCO), and other senior officials in the district
government.
The chief mayor, who is called district mayor under the modified
plan, will not be the appointing authority for such officials.
The provision of ratification of such appointments by the district
assembly has also been rubbed out from the original plan. The
original plan had authorized the district mayor to make such
appointments and the district assembly was authorized to ratify
them by a two-thirds majority.
However, the NRB is still insisting that the two-thirds majority of
the district assembly should have the right to remove the DCO, but
provincial governments believe it will lead to the worst form of
politicization in the bureaucracy.
The annual confidential report of the DCO will be written by the
chief secretary whereas the counter-signing authority will be the
district mayor.
The NRB also quashed the earlier condition of holding run-off
elections for the district mayor and deputy mayor in the planned
district governments. Provincial governments and some other
authorities had opposed the idea and insisted that the candidate
who would bag the maximum votes should be declared successful.
In the original plan, the NRB had said that when no candidate for
elective office received more than 50 per cent of the votes, the
election authority would within one week conduct a run-off election
between the two candidates who polled the highest number of votes.
The NRB has also made certain additions with regard to the
qualification of candidates for the district mayor and also for
members of the district and other assemblies.
It has proposed that the candidates contesting for the slot of
district mayor and deputy mayor should, at least, be graduate
whereas the minimum qualification for members of the assemblies
should be fixed at intermediate.
There has also been a lot of opposition to the proposed allocation
of 50 per cent seats for women in the district, tehsil and Zila
assemblies but the NRB has decided not to compromise on this issue.
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20000805
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Women to get 33% seats: NSC, cabinet opt for separate electorate
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Faraz Hashmi
ISLAMABAD, Aug 4: A two-day joint meeting of the National Security
Council and federal cabinet, which started here on Friday, decided
to fix 33% seats for women in the proposed district governments and
hold elections on separate electorate basis, Dawn reliably learnt.
The meeting will finalize the devolution plan, which is to be
announced by Chief Executive Gen Pervez Musharraf on Aug 14.
The first session put off till Saturday the discussion on other
issues, including the question whether the police should be placed
under the administrative control of district mayors or under the
proposed police safety commission.
The National Reconstruction Bureau chairman Lt-Gen (retd) Tanveer
Naqvi, who presented the plan, suggested that the police should be
under the control of district mayors who would be an elected person
and accountable before the district assembly.
Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider, however, differed with him and
insisted that they should be under the proposed police safety
commission which would also have public representation.
Gen Musharraf put off the discussion on the issue till tomorrow, an
official said.
In the original plan the NRB had proposed that women should be
given 50 per cent representation in the district governments.
However, in view of reservations, expressed by some members of the
NSC, the meeting decided to reduce the number of seats to 33 per
cent as recommended by Beijing conference, he said.
The issue, whether the elections should be held on joint or
separate electorate basis, was also discussed thoroughly and
finally it was decided not to change the existing system.
In the existing system, minority communities elect their members
for special seats reserved for them.
Later an official statement said the meeting was attended by NSC
members, the federal cabinet, governors, four corps commanders, and
some senior officials of the army, the election commission, NADRA,
NRB as well as chief secretaries.
Initiating the deliberations, the chief executive commended the
efforts and hard work done by the NRB in preparing the plan, which
will empower the people by making the system of governance directly
responsive and accountable to them.
The plan proposes strategic and far-reaching changes in the local
government system in order to lay the foundation of enduring and
participative democracy and good governance.
The proposals on devolution, originally announced on March 23 by
the chief executive, have been widely debated all over the country
during the past four months.
The governors, NSC members, the federal and provincial cabinets
have also consulted a cross-section of the people throughout the
country. Over 1,600 written analysis have also been received. The
print and electronic media have also projected a comprehensive
debate on the plan.

===================================================================
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
20000802
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Minister hints at auto-parts export:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Bureau Report
ISLAMABAD, Aug 1: The government is evolving a policy-cum-strategy
in consultation with car assemblers and vendors to have a long-term
and broad-based vision of the whole engineering sector.
Minister for commerce, industries and production Razak Dawood held
a meeting with leading car manufacturers on Tuesday and asked them
whether they will like a tariff driven strategy or a time-frame
deletion programme. He asked them to expedite deletion programme.
The commerce minister urged the industry to come up with a new
direction for the industry which encompasses the export of auto-
parts.
He assured the car industry all-out help from the government and
offered support for export.
"Growth of auto-part industry will not only boost export rather it
will also generate employment which is one of the prime objective
of the present regime", the minister said.
He urged car manufacturers to come up to the expectation of the
nation and expedite the indigenization process and discussed with
representatives the problems of the industry and achieving maximum
indigenization of the product.
Representatives of car vendors i.e. Toyota, Suzuki, Honda, Fiat,
Nissan, Hyundai etc. participated in the meeting. Secretary
industries and production, vice chairman, Engineering Development
Board and other officials of the ministry of industries and
production were also present.
The car manufacturers' representatives expressed views about
deletion programme and the participants discussed the possibility
of auto-parts exports.
They discussed the problems like smuggling, under-invoicing,mis-
declaration of the autoparts with, connivance of dry port
authorities which had harmed the vendor industry and loss of
government revenue.
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20000802
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Crack down on bookmakers recommended
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Samiul Hasan
KARACHI, Aug 1: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suggested to
the government for a crack down on bookmakers. Lt Gen Tauqir Zia
said the suggestion was made about two months ago and expected that
the raids would begin in the near future.
"We have been provided with all the details of the leading bookies
in Pakistan. If we manage to get hold of them, we would be able to
unearth more information besides helping the game of cricket by
keeping the people from harming the sport," he said.
He said he had a meeting with President Rafiq Tarar on May 25 in
which he had suggested this move, arguing that it would help
control the menace of match-fixing.
"Frankly speaking, match-fixing or betting cannot be eliminated.
But it can be controlled. Elaborating the steps taken by the PCB,
the general said mobile telephones have been banned in the dressing
room and the telephone calls in the hotel would come through the
team manager. He said the players have been banned from night-outs.
He admitted that there have been one or two incidents where the
players were reported to be attending parties. "But they were minor
issues and have been tackled."
"It has been decided in principle that the Pakistan team during
series' would only attend two functions - receptions by the local
cricket association and Pakistan Embassy/High Commission."
To another question, Tauqir Zia said the PCB has received four
audio cassettes of Salim Malik's alleged interview with News of the
World. He said quality of three cassettes was very poor. However,
he refused to given details of the fourth cassettes which he
admitted was audible.
The general admitted that the transcripts available with the PCB
were very damaging and contained Malik's remarks about the
honourable judge. But he said the transcripts have so far not been
provided to Justice Qayyum. He, nevertheless, said they would be
made available to the judge.
SALIM MALIK: The PCB chairman said Salim Malik has been given 15
days to inform the board whether he was contemplating appealing
against the life ban imposed on him. He said the deadline for the
reply expires on Friday.
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20000802
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Alternative to IMF loans ready: SBP chief
-------------------------------------------------------------------
KARACHI, Aug 1: State Bank on Tuesday said it had prepared an
alternative plan if the International Monetary Fund (IMF) refuses
to approve loans following a crucial post-budget review.
"If we cannot make a deal with the IMF, we have prepared an
alternative to cope with the situation," State Bank Governor Ishrat
Husain told AFP, without elaborating on the details of the plan.
An IMF team is expected to visit Pakistan by the middle of this
month to discuss a loan under the Poverty Reduction and Growth
Fund.
"We are not going to disclose our alternative plan till finalizing
the talks with the IMF," he said.
Pakistan hopes to get up to 2.5 billion dollars in loans from the
IMF to help pay off massive debt servicing bill.
Pakistan needs about six billion dollars to cover interest on its
debts due in 2001 but its forex reserves are hovering around 1.1
billion dollars.
Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz has said he hopes the first tranche
of the proposed IMF package, the details of which have not been
disclosed, will be made available by the end of September.
Analysts said they could see no sign that the central bank had any
contingency plan if the funds were not approved.
The 2000-2001 budget targets a fiscal deficit of 4.5 per cent of
gross domestic product, well below last year's 6.1 per cent.
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20000802
-------------------------------------------------------------------
300 flour mills threaten closure
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Sabihuddin Ghausi
KARACHI, Aug 1: About 300 millers of Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan
are closing down their flour mills on Saturday to protest against a
Punjab government decision, forbidding them from buying wheat
directly from farmers and allowing its mills to supply the flour to
the three provinces.
"We are holding a meeting of the millers from the three provinces
in Karachi on Wednesday to formalize the decision of closing down
our mills from Saturday", Malik Nazir, Chairman of Pakistan Flour
Mills Association, (PFMA) Sindh zone said.
Mr Nazir, during a visit to Dawn's office here on Tuesday with
Anwar-ur-Rehman, a former chairman of the association, explained
that the soaring price of wheat - Rs9,500 a ton in the open market
in Karachi - had rendered their operations non-feasible.
The Sindh government, too, is not releasing the subsidised wheat to
the 126 millers in the province who are now forced to buy it from
the open market where prices are going up.
The two leaders of the millers made it clear that from Saturday the
flour price in the open market would be Rs12 a kilogram. The price
of chakki atta, considered to be a premium quality, would be Rs15.
The millers argue that they should be allowed to buy the commodity
direct from the farmers. It will have two impacts, they believe.
Firstly, they will get wheat at a lesser price. Secondly, the wheat
price in open market in Punjab will go up and the farmer there will
get a fair deal without intervention of the Punjab government.
Early this month, the federal government had decided to increase
the supply of subsidised wheat to 6.72 million tons from 6.13
million tons to 724 flour mills in all the four provinces.
However, the quota of 450 mills of Punjab was increased and the 126
mills of Sindh were refused any increase.
The government has provided loans of Rs37 billion at 16 per cent
mark-up to the provincial authorities in Sindh, Balochistan and
NWFP to enable them buy wheat from Punjab after refusing the
millers to make direct purchases.
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20000801
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Asian Bank to provide $150m loan: Micro finance sector
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ihtashamul Haque
ISLAMABAD, July 31: A high-level meeting chaired by Chief Executive
Gen Pervez Musharraf on Monday was told that the Asian Development
Bank (ADB) was expected to offer $150m for micro finance sector
including the recently established Micro Finance Bank (MFB).
"The government has provided Rs one billion equity for the MFB
while $150m were likely to be extended by the ADB for the micro
finance sector as well as for the Bank", said Additional Secretary
and the Spokesman of Ministry of Finance, Dr Waqar Masood Khan.
He told Dawn the meeting was informed that the MFB will be the most
important instrument for the poverty reduction strategy. He said
that the ADB was also expected to provide technically assistance to
remove poverty from the country.
Chief Executive appreciated the efforts put in by all concerned to
conceive and implement a strategy aimed at assisting the poor
becoming masters of their own destiny. He said the government was
committed to the implementation of a policy supported by concrete
financial measures, so that any poor person prepared to work for
his own betterment and uplift does not face problems of raising or
arranging capital and credit. He said the key to the success of the
MFB was selection of persons on merit who were prepared to devote
time and energy for the betterment of the people and not simply job
seekers.
The chief executive directed the participants, including the
Finance Minister, Shaukat Aziz, Secretary General finance, Moeen
Afzal and senior officials of the Micro-Credit Bank to focus on the
less developed areas and take steps to encourage spirit of
participation among the people who would benefit from the scheme.
He said the Micro-Credit Bank was not merely a bank by another name
but an important partner of the people in projects for their uplift
and wellbeing. Ghalib Nishtar, Chairman, Micro Finance Bank gave a
presentation to the meeting apprised the participants about the
scope and objectives of Micro-finance including challenges,
mythology, business strategy, milestones and progress achieved so
far.
Nishtar informed the participants that 70% of the poor population
live in rural areas and so far only 5% of their requirements are
met through the formal and semi-formal sector. He dwelt at length
on effectively meeting the requirements of the poor and the
creation of a delivery system of financial services to them.
Nishtar said the Micro-Finance Bank was based on the participatory
development paradigm with the aim of reaching the poorest,
educating and training them as well as promoting the fraternity of
members.
He gave out the measures undertaken for establishing the
institution which included preparation of business and financial
models, signing of MoUs with Asian Development Bank and other
strategic partners, approval of legislation by the Cabinet,
establishment of dialogue with donors and identification of pilot
sites.
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20000801
-------------------------------------------------------------------
SBP cuts yield on FCY deposits
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Mohiuddin Aazim
KARACHI, July 31: The State Bank on Monday announced slashing of
15-20 basis points in the rates of return it would offer on foreign
currency deposits of banks in August.
The SBP said it would give 4.60 and 4.30 per cent return on three-
month and one-month deposits instead of 4.80 and 4.50 per cent
respectively. It said one-week deposits would attract 4.10 per cent
return instead of 4.25 per cent.
Senior bankers say the decision is aimed at forcing banks to lend
their foreign currency deposits in the domestic market or use the
same for dollar-rupee swap between themselves. But they say there
is little chances for the banks to do either of the two. "Domestic
lending in foreign currency is very difficult for the banks because
there are almost no good borrowers," said head of treasury of a
leading foreign bank.
"Exporters do not want to borrow in foreign currency because they
can do it only against future export proceeds and have to convert
the borrowed amount into rupees," explained the banker.
"So far importers are concerned...only multinationals can be
expected to borrow in foreign currency...but most of them have the
facility of borrowing from overseas through their principal
offices."
Bankers say the very reason that there are not many borrowers of
foreign currency in domestic market refrains banks from using
foreign currency deposits for dollar-rupee swap between themselves.
"When we swap dollar for rupee you do it to meet some commercial
transactions. If a banks swaps dollar for rupee where on earth he
would use these dollars when there are no borrowers around?"
questioned a banker.
If using foreign currency deposits in the domestic market is so
difficult what else the banks can do with them particularly when
they are not supposed to employ them abroad. "The answer is they
should continue placing these deposits with the State Bank and get
whatever return it offers," says treasurer of a state-run bank.
That is where the crux of the problem lies.
Banks are earning a cool return of up to two per cent through
placement of foreign currency deposits with the SBP after paying
1.0-2.0 per cent return to the holders of these deposits and
meeting operational cost. But this is leading to further
dollarization of economy without the economy being directly
benefited with it. That is why many bankers feel that the rate-cut
announced by the SBP is aimed at discouraging mobilization of
foreign currency deposits any more.
"We think the rate-cut would continue till the time when banks
would find it difficult to pay any interest on foreign currency
deposits forcing its growth to stop," said head of a local bank.
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20000804
-------------------------------------------------------------------
IMF objects to import of industrial inputs: Undocumented facility
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ikram Hoti
ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: IMF experts have objected to the facility of
undocumented trade of industrial raw materials allowed in Pakistan
on payment of 1.5% extra sales tax under the Finance Ordinance
2000.
According to official sources, the objection "of serious nature"
has been communicated to the Central Board of Revenue after
examination of the changes made in the tax structure in Federal
Budget 2000-2001, over the last one month. "They have objected to
this facility as the rate of extra sales tax has been reduced in
the new budget from 3% last year to 1.5% for the new financial
year, and that Pakistan is the only country with such a huge volume
of undocumented industrial inputs", said a senior CBR official.
The IMF experts have pointed out that more than 90% of 350,000 tons
of plastic industry's raw materials annually imported falls into
the hands of fake buyers, who sell it to the manufacturing units
evading taxes and duties by keeping their inputs undocumented.
They have pointed out to the CBR that while on the one hand the
government is conducting the documentation survey, on the other
hand it has allowed trade of undocumented industrial raw materials
only by paying 1.5% extra sales tax to the unregistered buyers,
from whom the tax-evading manufacturing sector purchases these
materials for keeping the inputs undocumented, which also helps
evade income tax.
These raw materials are imported by commercial importers and used
by sectors which have been listed by the CBR for being the top tax-
evading manufacture sectors of the country. CBR investigations
reveal that most of the tax evasion they commit is with the help of
commercial importers from whom they receive undocumented raw
materials.
CBR officials, when asked what they are doing to plug this evasion
and satisfy the observation made by the IMF experts, told Dawn that
a summary had been moved by the Sales Tax Wing to do away with the
large scale evasion, after scrutiny of a number of reports
indicating raw materials' disposal in specified sectors.
The summary for proposal to ban this trade was based on reports and
their due verification by the CBR, both from the industrialists and
the sales tax collectorate officials.
The IMF experts have also pointed out that the organized sector,
which forms only about 10% of the total of the manufacturing
sectors of plastics, steel, textiles and tanneries, have been
subjected to severe auditing due to their being documented in all
aspects, while the unorganized sector has been allowed to occupy
90% of the trade in raw materials by paying only 1.5% extra sales
tax.
Notice has also been taken of a number of complaints from the
relevant associations of the industrialists in the organized sector
who have been complaining that their units were being rendered
uncompetitive due to the sale of industrial raw materials to
unregistered persons. This trade at cheaper prices (due to being
non-tax-paid) has impacted the organized sector to the extent that
many of them are near closure.
When the attention of the relevant CBR officials was drawn toward
the fact that delay in introducing a pronounced ban on trade of
undocumented sale of raw materials in these specified industries
would retard the industries, they said a number of proposals are
being examined in this connection. The chief proposal was to ban
sale of these raw materials to persons who do not hold
manufacturing licence and sales tax registration number, but the
CBR's officials said "it would be against the spirit of self-
assessment and free trade under the sales tax laws, which do not
allow imposition of such restrictions.
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20000801
-------------------------------------------------------------------
New Tax Amnesty Scheme on 5th August
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ikram Hoti
ISLAMABAD, July 31: The Central Board of Revenue will announce the
new tax amnesty scheme-2000 on Aug 5, say CBR sources. The scheme
will, be applicable with immediate effect. The CBR officials told
Dawn Monday the rate of tax for whitening the undeclared
assets/incomes etc will be finalized in a presentation to the
finance minister in a day or so.
Three rates have been suggested: 12.5%, 13% and 15%. "Most
probably, the 13% tax rate will be accepted as applicable", said an
official who added that the declarants will be given two months
time to declare incomes, assets etc.
When asked what will be the treatment of assets and incomes
declared through the scheme but have been declared through the
survey forms as well, the source said: "those assets and incomes
declared through survey forms, cannot be declared for availing of
the concessional rate of tax under the second TAS-2000".
When asked how will the CBR know whether such assets and incomes
have already been declared through forms, the officials said a
provision is being inserted into the scheme to make it binding upon
the declarants that, while submitting the TAS declaration form,
they should attach a photo copy of the survey form already
submitted. This would help the CBR to ascertain whether double
declarations have been made.
"If we allow double declarations of the same assets and incomes,
this will jeopardize the entire exercise of survey which is meant
to expand the net and avail tax amounts as per the operative rate,
and not at the concessional rate", said a senior official.
He said that though the government has not set a target of tax
collection and volume of assets and incomes, "we hope that this
time the declarants will receive the scheme with the same fervour
and avail of its benefits due to two reasons: firstly, the survey
is going on through which declarations will be taxed at the normal
(non-concessional) rate, and this would be an opportunity to
declare at a concessional rate. Secondly, the post-survey scrutiny
of the incomes and assets to be conducted, which is indicated from
the kind of declarations required to be made through survey form,
is going to be thorough enough to help dig out incomes and assets
kept undeclared even through the survey form", he added.
Other CBR officials indicated that the government is considering to
create a mechanism in the post-survey (of 13 major cities) for
maintaining records of assets, turnover, assets and holdings on
city, locality and ownership basis.
"This will be a kind of watchdog on movement of finances and
materials, investments and profiteering through black market", they
said. "The CBR will seek cooperation of banks, development finance
institutions and private sector companies keeping records on
investments and transactions, finance-based litigation etc, in this
connection".
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20000803
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Gold prices move up as rupee falls
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Mohiuddin Aazim
KARACHI, Aug 2: Prices of gold have risen sharply in Karachi and
Lahore respectively after the removal of the cap on inter-bank
exchange rates on July 20.
On 20th July 24 caret gold was selling for Rs4980 per 10 gm in
Karachi and for Rs5040 in Lahore: on Aug 2 the rates rose to Rs5050
and Rs5075 respectively.
In Lahore, gold was selling for Rs5150 per 10 gm on Tuesday but on
Wednesday the price fell dramatically to Rs5075. But bullion
traders said the fall was temporary adding that the price would
soon hit back past Rs5100.
"One reason for gold prices moving up is that the dollar has become
dearer in the inter-bank as well as in open market," said chairman
of All Pakistan Gem Merchants and Jewellers Association Kamran
Khan.
He said gold importers purchase dollars from the open market to
finance their imports and as such any change in exchange rates
reflects in the local prices of gold.
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20000805
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Micro-Finance Bank ordinance 2000 promulgated
-------------------------------------------------------------------
ISLAMABAD, Aug 4: President Rafiq Tarar on Friday promulgated an
ordinance for the establishment of the Micro-finance Bank for
rendering micro-finance services to the poor for alleviation of
poverty.
The ordinance is entitled "Micro-finance Bank Ordinance, 2000," and
extends to the whole country and is effective immediately.
The bank shall be a corporate body with perpetual succession and a
common seal, with powers subject to the provisions of this
Ordinance, to enter into contracts, acquire and hold both movable
and immovable property, and shall by the said name sue and be sued.
Its shall be in Islamabad and the bank may, with the approval of
the State Bank, establish regional offices at such other
place/places in Pakistan as it may think fit.
The bank shall, in accordance with prudential regulations and
subject to the terms and conditions of the licence issued by the
State Bank, render assistance to micro-finance institutions and
provide micro-finance services in a sustainable manner to poor
persons, particularly poor women, with a view to alleviating
poverty.
The Micro-finance Bank shall not undertake or transact any kind of
business other than that authorised by or under this Ordinance. It
shall not be deemed to be a banking company for the purposes of the
Banking Companies Ordinance, 1962 (LVII of 1962) or any other law
for the time being in force relating to banking companies.
Provided that the federal government in consultation with the State
Bank may by notification in the Official Gazette, apply to the
bank, the provisions of Banking Companies Ordinance, 1962 or any
other law for the time being in force relating to banking
companies.
The authorised capital of the bank shall be Rs5 billion to be
subscribed by such banking companies, financial and other
institutions as the State Bank may, from time to time, determine.
The initial paid-up share capital of the bank shall be determined
by the State Bank and be subscribed in such a ratio as the State
Bank may permit.-APP
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20000805
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Stocks, sale checking from 25th August
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ikram Hoti
ISLAMABAD, Aug 4: The on-the-spot checking of stocks and sales of
the trade and manufacturing sectors for matching them with their
declarations made through the survey forms to be launched on August
25.
Sources attached to the survey scheme told Dawn here on Friday that
the physical checking of stocks and sales of the traders and
factories would be launched after the completion of scrutiny of the
survey-form based declarations of utilities consumption by the
residential section.
When contacted, Member Sales Tax, CBR, Sarfraz Ahmad Khan told Dawn
that scrutiny of utilities bills is going to take another 15-20
days, after which the physical verification of declarations by the
business section would "hopefully" be launched.
"The work of physical verification is planned to be completed
before Sept 30, when the income tax returns are scheduled to be
filed. The business section filers of IT returns have also been
offered the option of declaring the hidden stocks through the Tax
Amnesty Scheme, at a concessional rate. The CBR needs to be updated
on the stocks and sales for netting those assessees who neither
declare their hidden stock through the IT returns, nor through the
TAS, while under-declaring them through the survey forms".
He added that a three-pronged strategy has been prepared for
completing this work. In the first phase, he said, the survey
teams' work, presently being carried out in only the posh areas of
the 13 major cities of the country, is being extended to the non-
posh vicinities of these cities.
In the second phase, the physical verification of stocks and sales
of the business sections would be conducted, while in the third
phase, the survey teams would be asked to expand the scope of their
work to the non-mega towns, approximately 50.
However, he said, the most important work presently on hand is the
scrutiny of utilities consumption declarations by residential
section, which are being matched through the computerized data of
the utilities companies in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, while in
other cities, where the data is not computerized, the work is being
taken up manually.
Apart from this, said Mr Khan, the extension of survey work to the
other (non-posh areas and smaller towns) is intended to expedite
declarations of hidden assets. "In areas where the survey is
currently being conducted, hefty declarations of assets and
properties etc have been made through the TAS, while in non- survey
areas these declarations were negligible. Once the survey work is
extended to non-posh and smaller towns, which we plan to begin
before the expiry of the present TAS-2000, the TAS would attract
more attention", he added.
He further said that notices for registration with the Sales and
Income Tax departments would have to be sent to the non- assessees
whose sales and incomes, as per their declaration already made
through survey forms, have been found taxable. They would be issued
National Tax Number (NTN). "All this work has to be completed by
the end of September 2000. We are acquiring services of more
officials to join us in the survey and scrutiny work", said Mr
Khan.
Other CBR officials told Dawn that the income tax department is
preparing a strategy to approach the issue of under-declaration of
incomes by existing IT assessees, and approaching those non-
assessees who, through the survey forms and through their utilities
consumption charges, enjoy taxable income.
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20000804
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Special quotas for jobs abolished
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ansar Abbasi
ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: All special quotas reserved for fresh recruitment
and contract appointments in the government service have been
abolished, and it has been decided to fill in the vacancies on the
regional quota-based merit.
The policy guidelines providing legal cover to special quotas have
been deleted, according to an official order issued on July 17.
The reservation of 20 per cent of the total number of vacancies for
direct recruitment for the poor and needy, and another 20pc for
contract appointments, covered under the office memorandum of Aug
4, 1999, has been deleted.
All the vacancies would now be filled on merit based on
regional/provincial quota as protected under the constitution,
official sources said.
Paragraphs 5 and 6 of the 1999 memorandum have been scrapped by the
latest order. The para 5 said that 20pc of the total number of
vacancies earmarked for direct recruitment should be reserved for
the poor/needy and the disabled.
It said that the selection against the quota for poor/needy and
disabled people would be made through the prescribed selection
process, and merits of each case would be determined by the
selection committee.
Of this 20pc, the earlier order said, 2pc posts would be reserved
exclusively for the disabled. Such people would be eligible for
appointment only against the jobs for which their disability might
not be considered a disqualification, it added.
The para 6 said that 20pc of the vacancies would be reserved for
contract appointments which would require approval of the prime
minister.
The contract appointees, the order said, would be eligible for
regular appointment if they fulfilled the prescribed conditions of
educational qualification and experience.

===================================================================
EDITORIALS & FEATURES
20000804
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The revelation at hand
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ayaz Amir
SO, some of the confusion about Kashmir stands dissipated. A few
things are revealed more clearly: for one the indigenous nature of
the Kashmir uprising. India's willingness to talk to the Hizbul
Mujahideen is tacit admission of the fact that the Hizb belongs to
Kashmir and is not a creation of the ISI. Otherwise, would India be
willing to talk to the ISI on Kashmir?
Whether anything comes of the Hizb announcement of a unilateral
ceasefire - and I am convinced that India eventually will see to it
that nothing does - it has, at a stroke, laid the ghosts of "cross-
border terrorism" to rest. India will still go on shouting about
cross-border interference but after acknowledging, if only by
implication, the Kashmiri roots of the Hizb, it becomes difficult
to pin the blame for every armed encounter in occupied Kashmir on
the ubiquitous shoulders of the Pakistan army.
Those accusing the Hizb of rashness are not grasping this point.
Kargil was a mortal blow to the Kashmiri resistance, obscuring its
achievements and giving India a propaganda advantage it milked this
past year for all it was worth. Now at last, whether we recognize
this or not, the tables have been turned. By having made a peace
offer which India has accepted, the psychological advantage has
shifted to the Resistance. The onus is on India now to come up with
a matching response. Even the Amarnath massacre and the other
killings in Kashmir in the last few days, unfortunate as all these
sad events are, have drawn attention to the indigenous nature of
Kashmir's troubles.
Spread over four decades, a long enough time by any calculation,
India had the chance to bring Kashmir into the Indian mainstream.
But it failed. Instead of reaching out to the people it nurtured
quislings like Farooq Abdullah. If Farooq is not hailed as their
deliverer by the people of Kashmir, is Pakistan to blame? Pakistan
tried to manufacture unrest in Kashmir in 1965 (Operation Grand
Slam and then Gibraltar) and for its pains got a full-scale war it
had not bargained for. There is nothing foreign about the Kashmiri
uprising since 1989. The ISI could not have manufactured it even if
it had the resources of the CIA ten times over. Kargil obscured
this fundamental reality. The Hizb initiative now restores it in
its true colours. If the Hizb has done this on its own, it deserves
a medal for sharp diplomacy. If Pakistan is involved, then GHQ has
shown an intelligence it has rarely shown in the past. If the
Americans have anything to do with it, they deserve our thanks.
What is Qazi Hussain Ahmed so miffed about? That after his American
tour he will be taken for an American puppet? Or that the Hizb
announced their decision without consulting the Jamaat-i-Islami
politburo? That's the trouble with us Pakistanis. We can never let
things be but must try to impress our crude stamp upon them. We did
this in Afghanistan: trying to remote control the Afghan
resistance. Had we allowed a true, unified leadership to emerge
from the chaos of the Afghan war, that unfortunate country might
have been spared many of its subsequent troubles. We should not be
walking the same path in Kashmir. If the Chinese had listened to
Stalin, they would never have got their revolution. The Kashmiris
will never achieve their aim if they allow themselves to be pushed
around by outsiders. Qazi Hussain Ahmed should get over his sulks.
The Hizb announcement is the best thing to have happened to the
Kashmiri resistance for a long time.
Will anything come of it? I am sure not. India is a big country but
because it is still trying to climb up the greasy pole of world
stardom, and because one half of it is stuck in the bullock age
even as the other half tries to create a path for itself across the
skies, it lacks the imagination to think big. Its mentality is
still that of the village chaudhri who wants no diminution in his
authority because he thinks that any concession, no matter how
trifling, is an invitation to the peasant to rise in revolt. India
therefore is incapable of meeting the Kashmiris halfway. If the
past is any guide, it will try to exploit the Hizb initiative for
short-term gains, to weaken and fragment the Kashmiri resistance.
If India cannot stomach autonomy for its quisling, Farooq Abdullah,
how can it accept tripartite talks which put the future of Kashmir
on the discussion table? And how can anything less satisfy the
Hizbul Mujahideen and the other lights of the Kashmiri resistance?
This initiative therefore is destined to wither away. The people of
Kashmir are destined to suffer some more because they are caught
between the high mountains and implacable forces. And also because
the subcontinent lacks the genius of statesmanship. We are clever
people but often too clever-by-half. Oily and subtle pandits,
fractious and hair-splitting mullahs, volatile Bengalis: these are
the dominant subcontinental types. From these types are not
fashioned the instruments of statesmanship.
If the Congress leadership had been wise, the subcontinent would
not have split up. After all, the Muslims were not a priori
separatists and as late as 1946 were ready to go along with the
Cabinet Mission plan which foresaw a united India. But a
nationalism based on narrow religious symbolism drove them to call
for a separate homeland. If the Pakistani leadership had been wise,
East Pakistan would not have become Bangladesh. With tact and
imagination on India's part, Kashmir would not be the bleeding
wound that it is.
With what false arguments is not the Kashmir cause assailed? Forget
about Kashmir, we are told, and concentrate on development as if
Kashmir is the difference between perdition and the promised land.
Suppose, becoming subcontinental Arafats, we gave up on Kashmir.
Would corruption disappear from our land and would our governing
elite undergo a conversion on the road to Damascus? Kashmir does
not stop us from giving a proper education to our kids or from
cleaning our hospitals. It is not because of Kashmir that our
affairs are in such a mess.
What has the end of the intifida brought the Palestinians? The
institutionalization of greed and corruption in the Palestinian
Authority. What has peace brought Egypt? A certain amount of
American dollars, not progress in the real sense of the word. In
the hands of a corrupt ruling class wealth and resources, what to
talk of a peace dividend, are soon wasted. For proof look no
further than Nigeria, Indonesia and the oil-rich Arab states.
Even so, let us not forget the schizophrenia of which the people of
Pakistan are such unsuspecting victims. Ours is a land with a split
personality, with an elite and a governing class whose concerns are
aeons away from the heartbeats of the masses. The Pakistanis who
favour and support the Kashmiri resistance are 'native' Pakistanis,
not the pseudo-westernized elite which hogs the corridors of power.
'Native' Pakistanis go in for hopeless causes. Many Pakistanis have
died in Kashmir. How many of these from the drooling classes?
There was this news item two days ago about a ceremony at the
headquarters of the Anti-Narcotics Force at which a Ms Sison from
the US embassy (the Charge d'Affaires) was handing out good
performance certificates and cash awards, ranging from Rs 25,000 to
a lakh, to officials of the force. Tough-looking men in army and
police uniforms gratefully took their awards from Ms Sison (from
her picture a fetching face). In attendance at the ceremony were
high-ranking army and police officers.
What business is it of the US embassy to be awarding prizes and
money to (in other words, infiltrating) a department of the
Pakistan government? By cracking down on narcotics are we doing a
favour to the US government? In big matters the US kicks us around
the way it pleases. If memories are short on this score, Bill
Clinton's lecture to Pakistan need only be remembered. But in small
matters we cannot help licking up to the Americans.
In this as in other instances our split personality is at work: the
wretched of the country ready to lay down their lives for distant
causes; senior officials of the government conducting themselves in
a manner which shows up the servility and inferiority complex of
our governing class. The commitment to Kashmir preserves some of
our self-respect. Take that away and all we will be left with is
the batman mentality which distinguishes our national behaviour.
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20000730
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Treemazar - 3
-------------------------------------------------------------------
By Ardeshir Cowasjee
FOR AS long as man exists there will be greed in his world, and, as
in a case such as ours, the longer he remains uneducated or semi-
educated the greed will grow greater. Today this nation stands at
140 million strong (or rather weak) and with the uncontrolled
rabbit-like real birth rate (as opposed to the government's fudged
figures) it is estimated that by 2020 the figure will increase to
200 million. Frightening!
This column deals with one battle so far won by the people of
Pakistan against the gangs of marauders, land and property
grabbers, desecrators of public lands, and the perpetrators of like
crimes, and with the aiders and abettors of these criminals - our
civil and our military governments.
Over half a century ago, in 1947, a man achieved his ambition and
shortly thereafter died, in the dark of night on September 11,
1948. Mohammad Ali Jinnah had created a country and lived but 13
months after so doing. I and millions of others were there, at dusk
the next day to see him buried on a rocky barren hillock in Jamshed
Quarters. For years afterwards his grave lay covered by a tent.
Architects came and went, discussions were held suggestions made,
draft plans drawn up and destroyed.
In 1956 the Quaid-i-Azam Mausoleum Committee was formed by that
clever prime minister of ours, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, and it
had the good sense to seek the advice of Khan Bahadur Suleiman, a
former chief engineer of the Public Works Department of undivided
India. He called in architect Mehdi Ali Mirza and his junior, the
young architect Khwaja Zaheeruddin. They did the correct thing.
They approached the International Union of Architects in Paris and
set about organizing an international competition for the design of
a suitable monument. A jury, including men of world renowned
stature - architect Sir Robert Matthew of Britain, architect and
designer Geo Ponti of Italy, the famous structural engineer Pierre
Luigi Nervi also of Italy, architect Eugene Beaudouin of France,
and architect Georgis Candalis of Greece - was formed to judge the
entries.
The competition attracted worldwide attention and 57 entries were
received. In 1958 the jury assembled in Karachi and the design sent
in by young architect Raglan Squire of Britain was selected as the
winner. It was a beautiful design, striking in its simplicity, a
huge concrete flowing canopy. All were in no doubt that it far
surpassed all others in its perfection.
Then in stepped the obdurate Miss Fatima Jinnah. No domes? No
minarets? No fancy furbelows? She pulled rank and prevailed upon
the government of the day to reject Squire's design. At her
insistence Yahya Merchant, an architect from Bombay was brought in.
He is the designer of what stands today. President General Ayub
Khan, fitting in with Fatima Jinnah's wishes, in 1960 approved of
the design. Construction was started, work progressed at a snail's
pace until in 1969 President General Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan
appeared on the scene, banged down his swagger stick, and the
mausoleum was magically completed in December 1970, 22 years after
the death of the man in whose honour it was conceived.
The main area of the mausoleum (marked A on the sketch and the
peripheral areas (marked B, C, D and E) were fenced in. A shortage
of funds, of water, of initiative, and of will ensured that nothing
was done about the landscaping.
Yahya and East Pakistan fell. Then came the marauding democratic
governments of the greedy grabbing new political classes. Schemes
were floated by the politicians, the professional land-grabbers and
the builders' mafia to commercialize demarcated areas of the Mazar
land and raise money-making structures. In 1994 the people of
Karachi got together and formed the Treemazar project, with the
intent of planting trees in the barren peripheral Mazar areas. This
newspaper printed articles on the project and help came in cash and
kind. The land was saved, water supply was organized, trees,
bushes, shrubs and plants were planted.
In 1999, yet another military government took over, that of General
Pervez Musharraf. Sleepy but good architect Zaigham Jafery of KDA
has been revitalized and he and a team of engineers of 5 Corps
headed by Engineer Brigadier Asif Gazali have been put to work and
landscaping of all the areas is going on in full swing.
The Treemazar project, its objective achieved, has for the time
being suspended its tree planting and nurturing operations. The
people of Pakistan must thank and remain grateful for the time and
effort dedicated to the project by: Architect Husnain Lotia, Dr
Ghazala Aziz, Architect Qaisar Colombowalla, Lawyer Mahmood
Mandviwalla, Agricultural Scientist Mahmood Futehally.
For help in kind, for digging and filling, for material, and for
land survey, thanks and gratitude go to former chairman of Pakistan
Steel Mills, Lt-General Sabeeh Qamar-uz-Zaman, Engineer Matlub of
the PSM and his men who worked on the project. Gratitude also goes
to former IGP, Sindh, Afzal Shigri, who also put many of his men to
work in the areas.
We are most grateful to the Zoroastrian Association of Pakistan
(ZAP), particularly to office-bearers Hutoxy Cyrus Cowasjee,
Engineer Naval Dinshaw Dastur, for collecting funds and planning,
planting and nurturing the Ruttie Jinnah Grove (marked E on the
sketch) and for handing over the completed garden to the Quaid-i-
Azam Mazar Managing Board in March 1999 for further and continued
upkeep and maintenance.
And many thanks from us all to those who voluntarily came forward
and donated sums of money ranging from Rs.100 to Rs.100,000 :
A.M.I. Montesori Centre, Al-Karam Textile Mills, Al-Ameen
Chemicals, Major-General M Kamal Akbar, Brigadier Mujahid Alam, Dr
Zaeema Alavi Ahmed, Ashir, Javed Abbasi, Fahim Ahmed, Hasan Tayab
Ali, Syed Aijaz Ali Abbasi, Younus Afridi, Yusuf Alavi, Zulfikar
Alavi, Murtaza Anjarwalla, Q. S. Ansari, Abdul Aziz, Arsalan Aziz,
Dr Ghazala Aziz, Laila Aziz, anonymous donors (7). Beaconhouse
Students, Commodore R. U. Bajwa, Gulzar Bano, Asif Bhoora, M. M. H.
Baig, Noorjehan Bilgrami, Shahnaz Babar. Casa Dei Bambini, Ciba
Geigy, Commercial Union Insurance, Crescent Investment Bank,
Crescent Steel & Allied Products, Clothesline, Collector of
Customs, M Rafi Chawla. Dhan Dossabhoy, Daud Dadabhoy, M Hussain
Dadabhoy. Futehally Chemicals, Foundation Public School students. V
C Gonsalves. Hakimuddin Hormusjee, Homeopathic Store & Hospital,
Rasheed Khurshid Hussain, Faisal Khurram Hidayatullah, Habibullah,
Nizam-ul-Hassan, Syed Mohammad Hussain, Zain Hussain, Salim
Harianawalla, Talib Halai. International Inner Wheel, IBM Club,
Irfan Mawji Fund, Kunwar Idris, Almas Ilyas. Kalakot Union Football
Club, Kandawalla Trust, Kotwal's Casa, Maki Kureishi, Rashid Khoso,
Khaliq. Dr H. M. Jafri, Nawab Jan. Anwar Ali Khan, Captain Javed
Khan, Iftikhar Kachi. Lever Brothers, Amir Lotia, Ismail Lotia,
Nasir Lotia, Sakina Lotia, Zavera Lotia, Javed Latif, Khalid
Lakhani. Mariner Agencies, Mackinnon Mackenzie, Abdul Karim Mirza,
Aziz Mohammad, H. W. Matschulat, Ismail Ahmed Mansoori, Jamshed
Mehta, Liaquat Merchant, Murtaza Mandviwalla, Naila Masud, Yaqub
Malim, Perin Mooraj. Colonel S. A. R. Naqvi, Farukh Ismail Nami,
Iqbal Noorani, Syed Nooruddin, Nazli. Printing Services, Pakistan
Kuwait International, Pakistan Military Academy - Kakul, Pakistan
Petroleum, Pakistan Refinery, PIA Training Centre, Usman Hussain
Panjwani, Zafar Pishori. Iqbal Qureshi, Munawar Ali Qureshi, Mrs
Bilal Qureshi. Reliance Insurance, Lt-General M. Attiqur Rahman, A
Rahim. Sophia Textile Mills, Star Textile Mills, St Joseph's
College students, Sunflo Cit-Russ, Ahsan Sadiq, B. A. Siddique,
Farrukh Shaikh, Hassan Jafferali Saleh, M. H. Sidique, Maheen
Sadiq, Mahmood Saeed, Muneeza Shamsie, Natasha Suri, Rahat
Salahuddin, Rashid Shaikh, Raza Sangji, Sikandar Shah, Sophia
Sarwar, Ali Syedain, Zubair Laiq Suri, Bashir Sadiq, Aamir
Sadeqain. Tapal Tea, Amir Tapal, M. H. Turbani. Sohail Usman.
Volkart Pakistan, Ali Raza Vazir. Lt Mohammad Zubair, Yaqub
Zamindar, Zohair.So far so good!

===================================================================
SPORTS
20000802
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Justice Ebraheem criticises PCB action against players
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporter
KARACHI, Aug 1: Former Supreme Court judge, Justice (retd)
Fakhruddin G. Ebraheem, on Tuesday criticized the Pakistan Cricket
Board (PCB) for taking action against eight top players primarily
on a recommendatory report.
He also called for an inquiry into the mishandling of the
publication of Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum Commission report and
stressed that concerned authorities should be taken to task for
allowing the release of the document which tarnished the image of
the country and dmaged the reputation of the cricketers.
He was also critical of Justice Qayyum's recommendations arguing
that he had suggested penalties against the players despite
admitting in his report on several occasions that no evidence had
been found against them.
The former Governor of Sindh, speaking at a seminar on betting and
match-fixing organized by Helpline Trust, based his opinion on the
extracts from Justice Qayyum Commission report.
"The report is unbelievable," he said. "In paragraphs number 51, 52
and 53, the honourable Judge declares Salim Malik `not guilty' and
still recommends life ban and a cash penalty of Rs one million.
"Wasim Akram has been declared `not guilty' on three charges and is
still fined and recommended to be removed from captaincy and not to
be given any post. Similarly, all the players have been penalized
and censored despite the judge admitting that there was no
evidence.
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20000802
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Moin available for Singapore series
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporter
KARACHI, Aug 1: Pakistan captain Moin Khan has confirmed his
availability for the triangular one-day series in Singapore later
this month.
Talking to mediamen, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board
(PCB) Lt Gen Tauqir Zia, however, added that he would again have a
discussion with the wicketkeeper before deciding whether he should
be allowed to take a risk by plying in the competition. Moin is
currently in England for his knee treatment.
The general added that vice-captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, Wasim Akram,
Shoaib Akhtar and Saqlain Mushtaq would not be available.
The PCB chairman said Moin would return from England on Aug 5 and
that he confirmed his availability a couple of days ago.
He added that Wasim Akram has expressed his willingness to play in
the five-match series against India at Toronto and then in the
three-match one-day series against England at home.
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20000801
-------------------------------------------------------------------
No word about Indian acceptance of tour
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Reporter
KARACHI, July 31: No official of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)
was available to confirm if it has received confirmation from the
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about their team's
tour later this year.
Yawar Saeed, director of the PCB, had said on Sunday that he was
hoping to get information from across the border on Monday. But all
efforts went in vain to contact him to seek clarification.
At least half a dozen calls were made to the PCB secretariat in
Lahore but every time it was said Yawar Saeed was in a meeting. In
the evening, this scribe was told Yawar had left office. But he was
neither available on his mobile telephone nor in the hotel where he
is staying.
One wonders if it is advisable for the PCB officials to speak on
matters which are beyond their ccontrol.
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
20000804
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Reid's decision has blotted my career, says Waqar
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Reporter
KARACHI, Aug 3: Pakistan's leading fast bowler Waqar Younis
admitted on Thursday that he was disappointed by match referee John
Reid's decision which has left a blot on his distinguished career.
The pacer, who joined the training camp in progress here for the
Singapore tour after returning from Australia on Wednesday, said:
"I am obviously disappointed because all my achievements have been
undone by Reid's decision."
Reid, acting on law 42.5, had suspended Waqar for one match and
fined him 50 per cent of his match fee "for tampering with the
ball" in the match against Sri Lanka during the triangular series
last month.
Interestingly, the two match umpires had given Waqar a clean sheet
when Reid contacted them on walkie talkie to check the condition of
the ball. The ball remained in play and was not changed which had
allegedly breached the law thus casting doubt on the veracity of
Reid's decision.
"It (suspension) was quite depressing. I have played cricket
honestly and with dignity. But I am extremely thankful to the
Pakistan Cricket Board which stood by me and challenged the
suspension and fine," Waqar, after a lengthy workout in the nets,
said.
Waqar, who is only the second bowler in cricket history to have
taken 300 or more wickets in both forms of the game after Wasim
Akram, urged the board to pursue the case and help him in getting
his name cleared.
"Words are not enough to express my thanks for the support they
gave me when I needed most. But I request them to pursue my case
and help me in getting my name cleared," said Waqar.
He said the PCB should find out from the ICC according to which law
he had been suspended and fined "because the law which was applied
contradicts the laid down procedures."
When further pressed on the issue, the speedster said he would
first seek clearance from the PCB chairman, Lt Gen Tauqir Zia,
before giving his side of the story as to actually what happened
during the game.
"I don't want to breach the Code of Conduct. But I can surely say
that I have been penalized contrary to the laws of the game."
The speed merchant said he hasn't yet decided to be selective on
the competitions. He said he was looking forward to playing in
every tournament because that would help him stay in rhythm.
"Since I am a bowler who relies on rhythm, the more I play, the
better I will get. That's precisely why I am here because I don't
want to waste any time. I am a different bowler from Wasim Akram
who depends more on swing and control than pace. If I am not in
rhythm, I am an extremely expensive bowler.
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